February 2020

A great snowy shot taken just up the road at Therď€ eld sent in last year at this time by Andy Keam

Raising awareness of what’s on & where to find things locally

Issue 64 February 2020

www.onourdoorstepbaldock.co.uk Baldock, Ashwell, Weston and surrounding villages

Welcome

Is it just us that felt like January was never going to end? Hats off to everyone that managed to complete dry Jan and have stuck to their New Years resolutions this far.

Easter eggs are now in the shops so the festive period truly is behind us. At the start of a January it was time to take down the town tree for another year. The professionals were called in but seemed to be running rather late. After a number of confusing phone calls with both parties insisting they were standing next to the tree, it came to light that the team had actually started stripping the lights off the wrong tree. They were 8 miles away, taking down the tree in Royston!

There are often concerns for the lack of water and rainfall through January but 2020 seems to be turning that around. This is the first time in years that we have had water in the bottom of our well at the start of the year!

For those of you who have sworn to get fit in 2020 why not join in the weekly Letchworth Park Run? This year is their 2 year anniversary, meeting every Saturday at 9am at the Grange Park for a family friendly 5k. Whether you fancy a brisk walk, gentle jog or setting a new PB the atmosphere is great and gets you up and moving during these cold months.

If that's not enough for you how about taking the Baldock Beast as it returns again this February. The legendary half marathon takes place on 23rd at 10am.

To find out more or sign yourself up head to page 10.

The Fireside Festival is back with lots of plays, performances and activities throughout February. For more information and this years time table search online or get in touch with the Arts and Heritage Centre.

Finally If you're having a bit of a New Year clear out keep hold of your old board games, Baldock Library would love to take these off your hands and make use of them. Just pop in anytime and hand them to a member of staff.

Enjoy your February

Paul & Jacqui info@onourdoorstepbaldock.co.uk Jacqui Calver 07973 788418

Disclaimer All adverts and editorial are printed in good faith, however On Our Doorstep Baldock cannot take any responsibility for the content of adverts or services provided by the advertisers. Reproduction on whole or in part of this publication without prior permission from the publishers is strictly prohibited.

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THANK YOU Baldock Rotary club would like to send a huge thank you to the people of Baldock, Ashwell, Bygrave, Sto old and Weston for their considerable generosity during the Christmas period in suppor ng Baldock Rotary Club when Father Christmas with his sleigh paid their annual visit to residents.

The Club would like to express its sincere thanks for everyone's substan al contribu ons.

We know how much this event is enjoyed by children and adults alike and the Club was extremely pleased with the recep on and comments received.

Thanks also go to everyone who supported Baldock Rotary Club during this period with their me and effort.

As well as Rotary members and their wives and partners, a number of

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community groups, namely, Baldock 41 Club, Scouts from Baldock and Ashwell and members of the public gave their me to assist. We thank you all for your valued contribu on.

The street collec ons together with collec ons made at Sainsbury's and Tesco will enable the club to make valuable dona ons to our supported local charitable causes as well as contribu ng to na onal and interna onal ini a ves, such as the Rotary Interna onal worldwide programme for the eradica on of polio, which is close to having achieved its goal.

Baldock Rotary President Prue Dixon commented “that the Club recognises that people make their Christmas dona ons to Rotary at a me when their funds are under pressure and we are

extremely grateful for the generosity shown”.

The Rotary club also appreciates the kind words that have been made about the Christmas lights around Baldock town centre. This ac vity takes a significant amount of me, effort and investment by the Rotary club. Thanks go to those members of the community who have supported the club in this ac vity. It is good to receive posi ve comments and apprecia on for this work.

If you or your community ac vity has a project that would benefit from some support from Baldock Rotary, please let us know by sending an e-mail to our Community Services Chairman, John Wright at jfw123@b nternet.com.

Baldock Rotary is looking to a ract new members, so if you are the type of person who is able to “give something back” to the Community, we would love to hear from you. If you are interested in any aspect of what Rotary has to offer please contact us on our website, address below, or contact our Membership Secretary, Paul Redwood, tel. no. 07999 350990, e-mail paul49redwood@gmail.com.

Rotarian - Paul Lucke

Great Wall of China

Challenge

M. 07884 430741 E. claire@goodridgeaccountants.co.uk W. www.goodridgeaccountants.co.uk

Lisa Pa erson Guider / Brown Owl of 1st Baldock Brownies and Kathryn Dixon former KTS Pupil and Brownie Guider in Cambridge are aiming to complete a challenge with Girlguiding UK to walk the Great wall of China in October this year.

Firstly we need to raise £3200 each and then to complete a training programme of walks to then be able to sustain the programme of walking while in China for five days.

We are planning several events in the town the first being a Quiz at Knight Templar school on Friday 6th March called the Back to

School Quiz. The ques on rounds are linked to school subject with a couple of picture rounds.

Registra on forms can be collected and returned with payment to Baldock Community Centre. There will be a licenced bar and a raffle.

Food via the Tuck shop. More informa on and on line registra on forms can be gain from lisa.gascoine@b nternet.com or 01462 895319. Dona ons can also be made to www.justgiving.com/funding/ lisa-gascoine-pa erson or www.justgiving.com/funding/ kathryn-dixon3.

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THE FUN BARN Bury Lane Fun Barn and Farm Shop Following on from last summer’s hugely successful addi on of the outdoor Beach at Bury Lane, the children’s farm-themed Fun Barn has now undergone a large extension bringing yet more fun to this popular indoor play area. The Fun Barn now offers addi onal so play plus new music and role play areas. With extra tables and chairs on both levels, there is room for everyone to enjoy food, cakes and drinks from the on-site cafe. There is also a brand new dedicated sensory room for the under 2s and children with special needs under 10 years old, making it a unique facility in the South Cambridgeshire area.

We also open the Fun Barn for Relaxed Sessions on the first and third Sunday of the month in term me, from 9:15am un l 10:15am for children with addi onal needs so they can enjoy the

full so play area in a calmer environment. The extension has included the party rooms, three cater for 10-25 children and one room is able to accommodate up to 40 children (seated) so now the whole class can be invited to your child’s birthday party!

Party package details can be found on the website or call for more informa on.

With its own cafe and toilet facili es, adults and children alike can relax and enjoy a fun-filled visit in a warm, clean and safe environment. The Fun Barn also offers half price entry a er 3pm Monday to Friday in term me (not including the Sensory Room). A er all that play me, pop into the Farm Shop on your way home for fabulous food and glorious gi s (including children’s toys, books and games) with a wide choice of seasonal and local products, in fact there is something for everyone. For further informa on contact Bury Lane Fun Barn on 01763 260418 or visit www.burylanefunbarn.co.uk.

BALDOCK

BEATS WASTE - next mee ng Feb 19th.

Following our very successful mee ng in November when we heard all about the Waste Services in Her ordshire from Duncan Jones of Waste Aware we have booked The Orange Tree for Wed 19th February to hold an evening of informal discussion and sharing of ideas. The mee ng will start at 7.30 and more informa on will be found on our Facebook page @Baldock Beats Waste.

It was really great to meet so many people from Baldock and roundabouts at the Christmas Fair. Our Christmas tree in St Mary's church was also admired and we have posted a list (on Fb) of all the packaging materials used in the decora ons. We thought it might help people decide how best to dispose of some of those materials!

Keep an eye on our Facebook page for informa on about our next li erpicking ou ng, probably in February.

See you on February 19th.

Chris ne Watson

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Knights Templar Pay Tribute It is with sadness that I have to tell you that Vivian Crellin, former Headmaster at The Knights Templar School, died on 6th January 2020. Mr Crellin was Headmaster between 1960 and 1984.

Mr Crellin was undoubtedly a visionary leader and led the school through a significant period of growth and change, all of which he drove himself.

This included extensive development of the school buildings, the introduc on of the sixth form and the renaming of the school from Baldock County Secondary School to The Knights Templar School. The changes he made to the school during his me laid the very founda ons of the present school. Mr Crellin developed a very special ethos

in the school and the legacy of Vivian Crellin lives on in The Knights Templar School to this day.

The school will be paying tribute to Mr Crellin later this year in terms of a memorial event. Informa on about this will be available on the school website We extend our deepest sympathies to his family.

I have a ached a lovely picture of the last four Headteachers of KTS, spanning nearly 60 years of service. This was taken in Spring 2014 (Right to Le : Vivian Crellin, 1960 – 1984, Peter Chapman, 1984 – 2006, Andrew Pickering, 2006 – 2014, Tim Litchfield, 2014 – present).

With Best Wishes Tim Litchfield - Headteacher

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FEBRUARY MOVIES FEBRUARY 7th - UNDERWATER Underwater is a sci-fi thriller about a team of researchers who face unknown peril at the bottom of the ocean. The team of researchers are investigating the depths of the ocean when an earthquake damages their laboratory beyond repair. With oxygen running out, they must put on diving suits and walk across the ocean floor to reach their only hope of survival. But a dangerous unknown creature is also hiding in the dark waters.

FEBRUARY 7th - BIRDS OF PREY A twisted tale told by Harley Quinn herself, when Gotham's most nefariously narcissistic villain, Roman Sionis, and his zealous right-hand, Zsasz, put a target on a young girl named Cassandra, the city is turned upside down looking for her. Harley joins forces with Huntress, Black Canary and Renee Montoya's when their paths collide, and the unlikely foursome have no choice but to team up to take Roman down.

FEBRUARY 7th - DOLITTLE After losing his wife seven years earlier, the eccentric Dr. John Dolittle lives in solitude behind the high walls of his lush manor in 19th-century England. His only companionship comes from an array of exotic animals that he speaks to on a daily basis. But when young Queen Victoria becomes gravely ill, the eccentric doctor and his furry friends embark on an epic adventure to a mythical island to find the cure.

FEBRUARY 19th - THE CALL OF THE WILD Adapted from the beloved literary classic, it brings to the screen the story of Buck, a big-hearted dog whose blissful domestic life is turned upside down when he is suddenly uprooted from his California home and transplanted to the exotic wilds of the Alaskan Yukon during the Gold Rush of the 1890s. As the newest rookie on a mail-delivery dog sled team, Buck experiences the adventure of a lifetime as he ultimately finds his true place in the world.

FEBRUARY 21st - BLOODSHOT After he and his wife are murdered, marine Ray Garrison is resurrected and enhanced with nano-technology, he becomes a superhuman, killing machine. As Ray first trains with fellow super-soldiers, he cannot recall anything from his former life. But when his memories flood back and he remembers the man that killed both him and his wife, he breaks out of the facility to get revenge, only to discover that there's more to the conspiracy than he thought.

FEBRUARY 28th - DOWNHILL Downhill centers on a family whose seemingly picture perfect lives crumble after a near tragedy during a ski vacation. When an avalanche endangers his family, Pete’s immediate reaction is to immediately leave the premises.

This cowardly act is obviously met with disapproval from his wife Billie and their marriage is thrown into disarray as they are forced to reevaluate their lives and how they feel about each other, the rest as they say, is “downhill.”

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For the past few weeks, I have been tes ng the STM Myth 18 L Laptop Backpack. STM Goods were founded 20 years ago when the founder Ethan Nyholm realised that carrying his laptop around in a padded envelope whilst hiking wasn't a las ng solu on! He teamed up with Adina Jacobs and together they have been making fashion-conscious tech-carrying gear.

The Myth is available in three colour schemes, Granite Black, Slate Blue and Winsdor Wine, min was the la er.

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Helped by the Air-Channel back-panel which promotes air-flow and keeps you cool, so no more sweaty backs!

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with dimensions of H 17.7 x D 11.4 x W 5.9 in / H 45.0 x D 29.0 x W 15.0 cm. The bag weighs in a 2.2 lbs / 1.0kg (without the laptop!).

I've been using this as my main laptop bag for a few weeks, my 15" Macbook Pro slides in effortlessly and when fully unzipped the bag doesn't just fall open, it feels like it is opening on a hinge and means the contents aren't going to just spew out all over the place.

The bag feels extremely sturdy and very very comfortable to wear. The added back support is welcome and the flat base means it isn't falling over when you place it on the floor. I can see many commuters finding a back like this very useful indeed and it has plenty of storage space inside.

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n O s ’ t a h W Letchworth Parkrun A free 5km run every Saturday at 9am, Grange Recreation Ground, SG6 4PN. Very welcoming for new runners - see www.parkrun.org.uk/letchworth for details

Baldock Country Market Every Friday morning until Christmas - The Victoria pub Sun Street Baldock 9.30am - 12pm

Monkey Music Classes Every Friday classes running from 9.30 at the Baldock Community Centre contact Katherine on 01462 -626735

The Royal British Legion Baldock Branch Third Monday of every month - The Orange Tree Norton Road -7:30pm

Baldock Rotary Club Meets every Wednesday 12.00 for 12.30 (except if 5th Wednesday in month) at Baldock Bowls Club West Ave, Baldock. Contact Paul Redwood 01462 835795

North Herts Art Society Lecture 6th February 2020 11.00 -12.15 or 2.00 – 3.15 at the Spirella Ballroom, Bridge Road, Letchworth. A talk given

by Sarah Searight - Lapis Lazuli: Pursuit of a Celestial Stone. This talk follows the travels of this precious stone from Afghanistan through burials in the ancient world, in wall paintings in medieval Byzantian churches, ending with early Renaissance Madonnas robed in ultramarine, ground as pigment from lapis Lazuli.

Free Parking – lift access Visitors £7.00 www.theartssocietynorthherts.org.uk

BALGA Quiz Night Saturday 7 March 7.30pm at St Mary's Church Hall, Church Street, Baldock. Quiz Night with popular local quizmaster, Pete Dilley. Tickets are £6 per person and available from Baldock Community Centre or from the BALGA members' shop every Sunday 10am-12pm.

There will be snacks on tables and a pay bar. Prize for the winning team and raffle. For more information visit www.balga-online.co.uk.

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Available for short breaks and longer holidays all year round.

Wednesday 12th February, 14.00 to 16.00pm, Baldock Community Centre. A chance for older members of our community to have a chat and a cuppa. Contact Karen on 01462 895572.

WINE TASTING Baldock Rotary Club Friday, 28th February 2020, at 7:30 pm Community Centre, Simpson Drive. Featuring Wines of the World with complementary accompaniments Proceeds in aid of the multiple sclerosis society. Tickets: £16 each – buy five and get sixth free, available from the community centre and Keith Britter – 01462 896189 / 07866 739248

The Back to School Quiz Friday 6th March. Knights Templar Sch.Hall Doors 7.30pm. 1st 'Subject' 8pm. Bar.Teams 4-6 £4 each.

Forms from Community Centre Baldock or contact lisa.gascoine@btinternet.com If you would like to have your event included FREE in the next issue please email us at info@onourdoorstepbaldock.co.uk by 10th Feb 2020

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Weston Primary & Nursery School News from Weston Primary & Nursery School Although we are a small school we love our sport. We know how important it is for children to be ac ve and how it can help children in the classroom. We are part of the North Herts Schools Sports Partnership and take part in the many fantas c spor ng events that they run for schools in our area. We may not always win, but we love taking part.

We have a working partnership with Rising Stars who take our PE lessons, run our a er school clubs and holiday clubs.

They manage our football team - this year we are in the semi-final of the Wix cup for the first me ever. By the me you read this, we may even be in the final.

We take part in events co-ordinated by the small schools in our area and have been Inter-village Athle cs champions for 2 years in a row.

We celebrate the achievements of our children that take part in sport outside of school too, whether it is dancing, gymnas cs, sponsored walks, football, rugby, taekwondo, judo, tennis and many

more. We have a child in year 6 who is on the Lawn Tennis Associa on Development programme. She has recently won Our Lady of Muswell Lawn Tennis Club Christmas 2019 Girls 12 & Under tournament. We will be watching out for Erika at Wimbledon in the future.

I hope to follow the example set by the children at Weston Primary & Nursery School to do a bit more exercise and get a li le fi er in 2020.

Planning for Baldock's Future

image Simon Holtom

Neighbourhood Plan submi ed to North Her ordshire District Council Thank you to everyone who responded to last summer's consulta on on the dra Neighbourhood Plan, and to those who have a ended one of our public mee ngs and events. We have tried hard to take into account as many sugges ons as possible, and at our last public mee ng on 25th November, it was agreed that the plan should now be submi ed to North Her ordshire District Council. Following final checks, the plan was submi ed just before Christmas.

At the me of wri ng this we expect the dra plan to be discussed at a mee ng of North Her ordshire's Cabinet on 28 January, a er which the District Council will publicise that the plan has been submi ed, invite any further views and appoint a suitably qualified person to conduct an independent examina on of the Neighbourhood Plan.

We will keep you updated as things move forward. You can access all related documenta on on our website at www.bbplan.co.uk

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2020

Neutering of Dogs Year 7 football update Having your pets either spayed or neutered is a big decision for all pet owners. The idea of your pet having to have surgery can be very scary, but spaying and neutering are rou ne opera ons now as these opera ons are carried out on a daily basis.

The general benefits of spaying your female dog is that it can have long term benefits, it eliminates Pyometra's which is an infec on of the uterus, unfortunately this is what a lot of older dogs suffer from and it can be life threatening. It also reduces the risk of breast cancer which is the most common cancer of female dogs.

When it comes to the male dog there are also benefits to them being neutered , as it can eliminate benign prosta c hyperplasia which can cause difficulty urina ng and defeca ng especially in their later years. They could also get an enlarged prostate or tes cular cancer.

These are just a few reasons to consider ge ng your pets neutered, please give our prac ce a ring and speak to one of our Vets they will be happy to discuss it with you.

Tel: 01763 242221 (for Royston Vet Centre) or 01462 895578 (for Baldock Vet Centre)

The Year 7 football team cruised into the semi-finals of the County Cup with an impressive 3-0 win over The Thomas Alleyne Academy. Despite the wet and windy condi ons and a very challenging playing surface, the KTS boys persevered with their usual brand of passing football, crea ng numerous chances during the game through a combina on of quick interplay and a acking runs off the ball.

In truth, the KTS boys should have punished their opposi on far more than they did but goals from AJ, George and Max were enough to clinch a crucial victory and set up a massive semi-final e with Goffs School.

We would like to congratulate all of the boys involved on their superb representa on of the school and in addi on, we would like to thank the large number of parents who came to support the team, despite the horrid condi ons- your support is truly appreciated by staff and pupils alike!

'Act now don't wait'

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Baldock Gardens

By Graham Tapp

February 2020 February is the time of year when we start to get hints of spring, lovely sunny days with perhaps a more mild temperature than of late.

Be-aware winter is still here; this is the month that ruins some gardeners dreams, we all have young seedlings started during the dull and some times dreary time off over Christmas, and new year, we all knew it was too early to sow them, but even the best of us become tested at these times.

What are we to do with straggly stretched yellowing seedlings, that should have been planted out weeks ago? The answer, of course, is to re-pot and keep them a bit longer.

Is the dilemma of re-potting worthwhile?

Should I leave them as they are for a couple of weeks more? Or should I compost them and start again.

I get this question in February and March every year. My answer is always to take the loss now and throw them away. So what will happen if I keep them and try to grow them? The answer is that they will continue to to be an inferior substitute for a plant grown at the correct time of year in the proper conditions. The look on most peoples face is priceless when they have arrived here at the garden centre with enough tomato plants to fill their garden and most of every one of their neighbour's gardens down the street. So the plants go in the compost bin, and the customer has a fresh start, the second week of March is quite early enough for amateur gardeners who do not have a heated greenhouse to use.

I would suggest if you are a starter or novice gardener to try growing two or three tomato and or sweet pepper plants, a small row of lettuce, broad beans, radishes and perhaps some pointed cabbage. If you are very adventurous, try a short row of peas and carrots, don't go mad, start small and enjoy what you are doing.

I am always available to help with advice if you need it, don't be shy, maybe we could get you as a novice entry into a local fruit and Flower show. It only costs pence to enter.

If you want to grow something but have very little room or none at all in the garden, try a pot or bag of potatoes on your patio or some micro salad on your window sill.

If you have existing flower beds, you could try growing the odd vegetables within the flowers There are lots of flowers you could try growing, but you do need to get them started a bit earlier, I believe it's more cost-effective with flowers to let specialist growers get them started, and buy them as box and pot bedding. You can buy small pots of seedlings, but again let the professionals deal with the pest and diseases and pay for the heat and light needed.

Going back to why I say February can ruin gardeners dreams.

Recommendations are that we should start pruning as soon as the leaf has fallen. Sound advice for most plants that need controlling in shape or that are over flowering and fruiting so needing thinning, having pruned your plants back to their final form. February turns mild, and they start growing nicely, and perennials begin to show new growth.

Then the weather turns freezing and frosty with burning easterly winds; you get the general idea. In our area here we can get bitingly cold winds. These burn any tender new buds and shoots until they die, leaving damaged stems and branches with access for infections. If you had pruned your plants with a bit longer stem, they would have buds lower down that would not have been damaged and still viable. This very same cold weather is why you shouldn't start your seeds of so soon. As a general rule of thumb if you think you could comfortably lay outside on the ground in just a tee-shirt and shorts for an hour, then it could be warm enough to plant your seedlings out if it's

St Johns

Tapps, The Baldock Garden Centre

too cold and wet for you then keep them inside.

If you leave any tender plants pruned to half the length you require them, you can prune them to the final height necessary later towards the end of March, perhaps early April, tying in with planting your seedlings out as I said earlier.

When as a young student doing my apprenticeship, I was always told that it's better to have 80 per cent of something rather than 100 per cent of nothing.

Meaning do not try and get the earliest crops to market unless you are in an area that has a natural environment that allows that to happen or you can provide that environment artificially but economically, so if you cant do it, don't do it. It is the law of diminishing returns.

Now if you are seriously intending entering a show competitively, then those rules don't apply. You will have to pay for whatever you need or require to get the best results you can get, bear in mind that once you have committed to your first expense, you will have to keep paying out to protect your crop and your prior monitory payments in heating and lighting. If you don't achieve the best quality you can, you won't stand a chance in the competition.

So don't get too excited starting your seeds, watch a few more television programs.

Enjoy your gardening

Cheers Graham

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Into the Isn't it lovely, we are coming out of the dark. I can see it already, As I write this, we s ll have a few weeks of miserable January le , but I can see the light creeping in already. I don't know about you, but it gives me li le more energy. I can feel myself slowly emerging from the self-imposed hiberna on of winter.

Ever so slowly, I'm waking up a bit, stretching, yawning, becoming conscious to all that's around me. I know its early, but on my walks, I've stared to look for signs of growth, buds on trees, green shoots that kind of thing. I know the frosts are coming and I'm probably suffering from Premature Spring An cipa on, if there is such a thing, but I can dream a li le for a while.

With my newfound tolerance of gardening, I look at my garden and the seeds of ideas are being planted (see what I did there). Whether any of it happens is something else en rely, but we all need start somewhere.

I can't wait for it to snow. I so love the first fall, especially when it happens overnight and you wake up to a glorious clean white blanket of virgin snow. The child in me needs to be the first to defile the purity of it by traipsing up the garden path. I'm always a li le

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Light disappointed when I look back and see what I've done but I enjoy the guilty pleasure of it. I remember, when I was 16 or 17, walking up the middle of Baldock high street a er a huge fall of snow, so big, they had shut the Royston Road. It was late at night or early in the morning (I was a feral child, so no blaming my mother). Not a car was to be seen, no other person or animal around. Such silence, I don't think I've ever experienced such nothingness since. It was very eerie and weird, but also so very special, magical even.

I do try to keep this column light and keep any whisper of poli cs out of it, heaven knows we are a bit sick of it all, but I don't think I can write this one without men oning the B word. As of today, we are on our own. It's doesn't ma er if you agree with our chosen path or not, it's happening.

I know there is a lot of difficul es to overcome, and I'm sure it's not going to be a bed of Roses, but I for one am feeling quite posi ve about it all. If only because history has shown that us folk in the UK are a bunch of toughies and will weather any storm that is thrown at us. We will get

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through this with our s ff upper lip and can-do a tudes intact.

I am saddened by the amount of animosity and division the last 3 years have caused, but I just know that we will come through this ok (those rosecoloured glasses again I guess). Whilst we may have been divided, I s ll like to think that on a local level we s ll have our friends, we may have argued and debated but we never really fell out. I've been made to think a li le more about poli cs. Here's an admission for you, I had never voted in my life before the referendum. Yes, I know, I can hear that collec ve sigh and mu erings of Emily Pankhurst turning in her grave. I can see you all shaking your heads in disappointment. But I've never felt compelled to get involved un l now.

Perhaps it's the menopause, perhaps I'm just turning into a grumpy old woman.

But, look at it this way, if the only thing that Brexit achieved is to have got people like me of their backsides and involved, that can't be a bad thing can it.

Anyway, its Pancake Day soon and that's worth a celebra on in any one's book.

Nicky

R.H GARDEN DESIGN The Garden Specialists Some of our many services offered include:

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Regular maintenance Garden Make-overs Jungles tamed Patios Fencing Turng Planting Articial grass Decking Driveways Pressure washing of patios and drives

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5 minutes with... ... Sophie Tully from *Tell us a li le about yourself I'm Sophie! I've been a scien st for 15 years and a health coach for 10. Across my career I've been fortunate to work in a range of se ngs including research, industry and academia, where I teach Nutri on and Biomedical science. Now, as a Nutri onist and Health Coach, I help people achieve their health goals through diet and lifestyle interven ons. Away from work, live music, fes vals, great food and exploring the world are big parts of what makes me happy. *When and why did you start the business?

I started the business a decade ago. Someone very dear to me had been suffering from depression but none of the treatments they had tried really seemed to help. At the me I was working as a drug research scien st but realised helping people was more complex than giving them pharmaceu cals. I started to research alterna ve approaches and came across EPA, a component of fish oil. The improvement a er just two weeks was amazing. I decided to retrain in natural medicine and so gained my Master's in Nutri on and a fitness qualifica on. *What is it that excites you about your job?

I love that I get to meet lots of lovely people and help them work towards feeling be er and achieving their goals. Making breakthroughs and seeing the amazing results of my clients' hard work is par cularly rewarding. I also love being able to translate the complex science of nutri on and health into prac cal and understandable informa on to help people be fully informed about their health.

*What is the biggest or most common issue with clients' diets?

Today almost everyone I see feels completely lost and unsure of what they should be ea ng. There is so much confusing and conflic ng informa on out there and each online 'guru', book or scheme will have you believe that they have 'the' solu on. The truth is that the 'right' approach to diet and health is as unique as you are and more complex than ea ng specific foods. *What would you say to someone that's nervous about contac ng you?

That it's perfectly normal to feel nervous, you are taking the first step towards improving your health and well-being and that it is amazing. However, there really is no need to be concerned, when working with me you are in control at all mes. The support plan we create together is manageable and achievable and doesn't mean having to give up everything you enjoy in life. *What benefits should clients hope to gain by visi ng you?

People come to me with range of concerns including energy, mental health, weight management and sports performance or to understand how nutri on relates to blood sugar balance, immune health, diges ve func on, hormones or cholesterol. Nutri on provides the building blocks for every single func on and process in the body and so even a few simple changes can help make a difference to most areas of health and well-being. *Are you solely based at Amber Health No, I currently offer appointments at Amber Health, online via video conferencing so ware, or at my home in Baldock. Home visits in the area are also available for people with special circumstances.

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THE FEEL GOOD FACTOR Our emo onal and physical health are inextricably linked. Whether we're happy or sad, our bodies respond physically to the way we think, feel and act.

The argument you've just had with your partner has le your blood boiling. You phone a friend who makes light of it and before long you're laughing. Ins nc vely, we know our emo ons have a capacity to harm and heal, not just psychologically but physically and now scien fic findings are backing this up.

Research has shown that having to deliver a speech can double the severity of allergy symptoms for two days, while crying is soothing because stress hormones are carried out of your body in

tears. So just how do feelings affect our health? Expressing the affec onate feelings you have towards your partner lowers cholesterol levels. Research showed that when people spent three 20 minute sessions per week wri ng about loved ones their cholesterol count fell within five weeks.

Research at Ohio State University found a 30 minute argument with your partner can slow your body's ability to heal by at least a day. If you argue regularly that healing me is doubled.

Research also found that short bouts of stress can boost immunity and raise levels of cancer figh ng molecules and the effect lasts for weeks a er the situa on ends. However, long las ng or chronic stress is a different ma er, as stress leaves you in a fight of flight state in which your body turns off long term building and repair, leaving you with memory and accuracy impairment, you re more easily, you become depressed and reproduc on gets downgraded, risk of stroke, heart a ack and diabetes.

We can transform our emo onal states by stop nega ve emo ons, the longer you let them affect you the longer you suffer psychologically and physically.

If you catch yourself in an escala ng argument, walk away and find a quiet spot to take some deep breaths this will reduce your blood pressure.

Visualising posi ve emo onal states can induce them in the body along with their beneficial effects on health. The mind cannot differen ate between an imagined state and a real external state, so if you vividly imagine a posi ve state you experience the benefits as if they are real.

Visualise your laughing joyful and full of energy while imagining the feeling itself, the more vivid you make it the more effec ve it will be.

Using Hypnosis combined with other techniques improves thought processing building confidence in a fast and effec ve way helping to create changes in your general a tude towards yourself and your current life situa on.

Kim Holloway – www.total-therapy.co.uk FEBRUARY

2020

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Hertfordshire’s Leading Art Galleries are Closer Than You Think...

V I S I T B A L D O C K F O R A F I N E A RT E X P E R I E N C E

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Slimming Wld Recipe Supplied by

Sandra Lloyd

Mustard Chicken and Bacon Stew This One-Pot dish of chunky chicken, bacon and vegetables is a simple and tasty winter warmer.

Ingredients Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ

600g skinless chicken breast fillets, cut into large chunks 400g back bacon rashers, all visible fat removed, cut into 2cm pieces 400g leeks, thinly sliced 2 carrots, peeled and thinly sliced 3 celery sticks, thinly sliced 2 garlic cloves, peeled and thinly sliced 1 level tbsp cornflour mixed with 2 tbsp cold water 500ml boiling hot chicken stock 2 level tsp wholegrain mustard salt and freshly ground black pepper

Method 1. Place all the ingredients into the slow cooker pot, season to taste and stir to mix well.

2. Cover with the lid and cook on LOW for 7-8 hours or until the chicken is tender.

3. Serve with rice or mashed potatoes and vegetables

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For most people their home is the biggest investment they will ever make and the things they keep in it are their most prized possessions.

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Courtlands Riding Stables & Pony Club Centre Always fancied horse riding but don’t know where to start?

Why not come down and have a chat and see what we have to offer Our friendly staff and clients are always around Saturdays and Sundays 9am -12pm

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FEBRUARY

2020

Rotary Club Seeks New Gardens for 'Open Gardens' Event in May As part of the Baldock Fes val in May, the Rotary Club of Baldock will once again be sponsoring and organising the very popular Open Gardens event.

As is tradi onal, it will be held on the last a ernoon of the Fes val on Sunday, 19th May and we ask gardens to be open between 1.00pm and 5.00pm.

Our Open Gardens are a mix of gardens some of which are open for the first me and others that have opened previously. This always gives people a choice of which gardens to visit.

In order to provide an even wider choice of new gardens to visit we would like to give people the opportunity to volunteer to open their gardens.

Your garden doesn't have to be; Ÿ a show garden – there are no prizes at stake Ÿ a large garden – small can be just as interes ng Ÿ pris ne – weeds have a habit of appearing overnight!

However, it does have to be a safe environment.

Baldock residents are always interested in the Open Gardens event and ideas and comments (always posi ve) are shared on the day.

However, with greater publicity the event is beginning to a ract visitors from further afield.

All gardens are marshalled throughout the a ernoon by Members or Friends of Rotary who take responsibility for checking ckets and suppor ng the garden owner.

In previous years people have responded to this request and found it an enjoyable experience.

If you are interested in opening your garden and would like to volunteer or would like more informa on about the event please contact Janet Hammond, telephone number 01462-894603 or email janet.hammond4@b nternet.com Rotarian - Paul Lucke

2020 FINALISTS Congratula ons to the amazing Champman’s team, who have been nominated for the Countryside Alliance Awards, and are now one of only four in the Game Champion regional finalists 2020.

Just to give you an idea of what an achievement this is, there were 18,000 nominees last year.

The applicants are judged on a range of criteria including their passion and commitment, sense of community, championing local food and the energy and diversity of their business.

The Regional winners will be invited to a end the Champions Recep on at the House of Lords in London in June 2020 where the Na onal Winners will be announced.

We would like to wish Bob, Eileen and the rest of the team all the best and hope they ‘bring home the bacon’ later in the year

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2020

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CARBON MONOXIDE DANGERS Firstly, let me introduce myself, my name is Mark, I am a fully qualified Gas Engineer, Gas Trainer and Assessor with forty years experience in the gas industry.

I would like to talk about the importance of having your gas appliances serviced every year.

Carbon Monoxide (CO) can be a silent killer. You can not see it or smell it, but it is deadly.

CO may not kill you, it could leave you with life changing affects. You don't have to be subjected to it all at once, CO can build up in your body and could take several weeks or months to have a major affect on you. Symptoms include headaches, nausea, breathlessness, collapse, dizziness and loss of consciousness.

Therefore it is very important to get your gas appliances serviced once a year, not only gas boilers but gas fires and

especially cookers. Gas cookers work in extreme condi ons – spilt fat, milk, water etc. so they need checking once a year.

Gas Fires should be serviced every year, taken out of the chimney, the chimney inspected and tested to make sure it is working ok. Gas boilers need to be checked every year for safety, especially old type boilers.

To carry out a service correctly and competently, a Gas Opera ve must be qualified to work on that appliance and the gas that feeds the appliance (i.e.

LPG, natural gas). This can be easily checked by you, take a look at the back of the Opera ves Gas Safe ID card, it lists all the appliances that the opera ve can work on and confirms whether their qualifica ons are in date. If in any doubt, contact Gas Safe who will also confirm competency (0800 408 5500).

Always check the card – expiry date on the front, gas qualifica ons on the back.

Remember, be safe, CO can be life changing. Make sure you have a CO alarm and it is fi ed in the correct place.

Most importantly, check that it is in date and that you test it by pushing the bu on regularly.

There are s ll too many CO incidents in this country, it needs to be reduced and you can play your part.

Don't take chances, take out all the possible risks, get your gas appliances checked once a year.

If you would like any informa on or advice, feel free to contact me on 07845 971419.

Remember if your CO detector goes off turn off the gas, open doors and windows and call the na onal gas emergency number 0800111999 . Leave the building un l risk has been iden fied and it is safe to return, If you suspect someone having CO poisoning take them into fresh air and call medical help immediately.

Mark Kitchener, LGT AIGEM

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2020

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District Champions Our senior hockey girls’ took to the pitch on Monday night in the District Indoor Tournament.

Having already secured the outdoor league tle, the KTS girls were looking to do the double but would face tough opposi on in the form of St Francis and Hitchin Girls’.

KTS blew away the Hitchin Girls’ B team 4-0 and enjoyed another clean sheet in a 2-0 win over St Francis. However, things were a li le tougher in their clash with Hitchin Girls’ A team and with just over 1 minute, le the score remained ed at 1-1.

Then, up stepped Philippa….with a fantas c solo run and shot at goal, Philippa scored and secured the all-important win and with it, the Indoor District tle!

Another posi ve on the night was watching the B team girls ba le brilliantly in each of their fixtures and although they were unable to secure a win on the night, there were some great goals on display and some real posi ves for the future.

Issue 53 March 2019

Raising awareness of what’s on & where to find things locally

COPY DEADLINE for the March issue is 10th February 34

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WHAT WE DO

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GUITAR TUITION Are you a complete beginner, stuck in a rut, or looking for inspiration?

I teach most styles of guitar, electric and acoustic, from my home, near Baldock.

Qualified - BMus (Hons) Contemporary Music Performance (Guitar) and with DBS certificate.

Week daytime and Wednesday evening spaces available. info@IanGuitar.co.uk

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For all enquiries please contact us: DavidTimms@VirginMedia.com

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THAT FEELING YOU GET WHEN THE PHONE RINGS ADVERTISING FROM

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Useful numbers Advice Citizen’s Advice Bureau Trading Standards Advice Samaritans

03444 111444 0300 300 8136 116 123

Councils North Hertfordshire District

01462 474000

Doctors Baldock Surgery

01462 892458

Dentist Victoria Place Dental Surgery

01763 313869

Emergency Utilities Gas Emergency Electric power cut

0800 111 999 0800 7838838

Hospitals Lister Hospital Queen Elizabeth 2 EMERGENCY HEALTH

01438 314333 01707 328111 111

Library Baldock Library

0300 123 4049

Police Police

01707 354000

Schools Knights Templar Hartseld St Johns St Marys Brandles

01462 620700 01462 895267 01462 892478 01462 892347 01462 892189

Travel Arriva Buses National Rail Enquires National Bus line

08701 201088 03457 484950 0870 6082608

Vets Baldock Veterinary Centre

01462 895579

Nurseries Weston Way Nursery Merry Go Round

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Play Groups Magic Moments Merry Go Round

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Plumbers Maben PE James

07949 120911 07816 586777

Window & Door repairs JML Windows Repairs Warrens Windows

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Florist Blooms of Baldock

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Barbers Micks of Baldock

01462 895002

Locksmith Lock and Glaze

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Mobile Hair Dresser Hair By Jacqui

07973 788418

Funeral Directors Shires - CPJ Field Baldock

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Mco Tim Felce Please send your local snaps new or

February Gallery

old to our facebook page or email info@onourdoorstepbaldock.co.uk

The U15 Garden City squad after beating local rivals Bishops Stortford.

An amazing shot of the moon last night Tim Felce

St Marys in all it’s glory Kevin Thompson

Father Christmas on his rounds Marie Baker

The Green Man in Weston Hills Nature Reserve Neil Cherry

Cody and Eileen make a break for it from ofcer Toad as they don't have licenses - Neil Cherry

Baldock & Clothall WI Mascot Emmeline.....She was driving to Jerusalem

Ron Flesch on his scooter at the green at St.Mary Way 1967 - Alex Flesch

Wow ‘Just a Starling’ Margaret Dellar

Local celeb, Buddy enjoying his walk on Clothall Common- Stuart Knock Where there's a will there's a way Margaret Hughes

Sundown in Weston Lena Hodgson Opening of Baldock Police station - Neil Hamilton (Courtesy of Herts Police historical society)

Another amazing shot from Margaret Dellar A blast from the past Guilio McEwan

Beautiful sunrise over the Baldock roof tops Cath McLeod

AND VIEW THE FULL RANGE OF OUR PRODUCTS

Come along and view our full range of products on display in our new show room.

Kindlelight’s friendly staff will be on hand to assist with any queries. Everyone is welcome.

Ample parking and refreshments available.